Hinge structure



May R F. BEAN r 2,202,724

/ V HINGE STRUCTURE I I i I I //a, I Inventor-z Robert 1: Bean,

H s Attorr egf Patented May 28, 1940 PATENT OFFICE HINGE STRUCTURE Robert F. Bean, Bridgeport, Coma, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original application September 28," 1937, No. 166,063.11ow Patent No. 2,192,843,

Divided and this application March 5, 1940.

Serial dated September 8, 1938, Serial No. 228,971

11 Claims.

This invention relates to hinge structure, and it has for its object the provision of an improved structure of this character.

More particularly, this invention relates to 5 hinge structure for pivotally connecting the power unit of a food-working device to its standard or base, and it contemplates an improved hinge structure which functions both to pivotally support the power unit and also to hold it in each of a plurality of positions including a working position and a non-working position. In addition, it provides for reversing the power unit and for supporting it on the standard or base in an inverted position.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 166,063, filed September 28, 1937, now Patent No. 2,192,843 of March 5, 1940.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should'be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a food-working device provided with a hinge structure for connecting the power unit of the deviceto its base or standard arranged in accordance with this invention, parts being shown in section so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the power unit in an inverted position on its base or standard; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the power unit in a different position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mixing device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an expanded perspective view illustrating the hinge structure used in the mixing device of Figs. 14, parts being shown in section so as to illustrate certain details of construction.

Referring to the drawing this invention has been shown in one form as applied to a. foodworking device, such as described and claimed in my above-mentioned copending application. This food-working device comprises a power unit 10 mounted upon a suitable combination standard and base II. The combination standard and Cir base II has a horizontal base supporting porthe inner beater I3 is removed and only the two outer heaters are used, in the manner described and claimed in my copending application referred to above. A turntable I6 is rotatably mounted on the base or standard H and is arranged to support either the large bowl I4 or the small bowl I5.

The power unit I0 is provided with a suitable handle l1.

The hinge structure arranged in accordance with this invention for connecting the power unit ID to the standard H provides for its pivotal movement from its working position shown in Fig. 1 overhanging the base Ila. and a mixing bowl, as shown, and wherein the heaters l3 are posi- 15 tioned in the mixing bowl, to a non-working position shown in Fig. 3 inwhich the beater elements are removed from the mixing bowl. It is further arranged so that the power unit may be removed from the standard, inverted, and supported in the reverse position shown in Fig. 2 so that the operating spindles l2 face upwardly rather than downwardly as in Fig. 1. In this position, the power unit may be used to operate certain auxiliary appliances (not shown), such as a juice extractor and a gear reduction unit for operating a meat grinder.

The hinge structure, as shown, compr ses a pair of spaced-apart bearing members I8 formed on the upper end of the standard ll. In each Of these bearing members is a vertically positioned bearing slot l9 opening at the top, and having a curved bearing seat at the bottom of the slot below the'opening at the top and in vertical alignment with it, as clearly shown in the drawing. The power unit is provided with a hinge lug 20 which is arranged to be received between the bearing members l8 and which supports oppositely positioned laterally projecting pins 2| that are adapted to be inserted through 4 the open tops of the bearing slots l9 so as to be received down in the curved bearing seats at the bottom of" the slots.

The hinge lug 20 is provided with a stop face or surface 22 which engages an abutment surface 23 on the standard I I when the hinge pins 2| are down in their bearing seats l'9, as clearly shown in 1, so as to prevent counter-clockwise movement of the power unit, as viewed in this figure. Also, the power unit is provided with a rearwardly extending flange or lug 23a which when the power unit is in its working position shown in Fig l is positioned to engage that part of the standard under the abutment 23 to prevent vertical movement of the power unit from flange 23a does not interfere with free pivotal movement of the power unit from its working position shown in Fig. 1 to its non-working position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to support the power unit ID in its inverted position shown in Fig. 2, the power unit is elevated to withdraw the pins 2| from their hearing slots l9, and is then inverted, and finally the pins are again inserted in the bearing slots l9, as shown in Fig. 2. In this case, each pin is provided with a small locking lug or ear which travels between the two bearing members iii of the standard. The standard between these bearing members is provided with a curved cam surface 26 which is adapted to cooperate with the lug 25 in such fashion that when the power unit is rotated from its position of Fig. 1 toward its position of Fig. 3, the lug 25 engages the cam surface 26 to elevate the lug and the power unit 1 connected with it slightly until the power unit arrives in its position of Fig. 3, whereupon: the lug 25 will move from the cam surface 26 and drop into a locking recess. or depression 21 provided in the standard l2 at the lower end of the cam surface 26. Of course, when the v locking lug reaches the recess or depression 21, the power unit drops slightly so that its pin 2i: reoccupy their lower positions in the bearing slots i 9. The locking recess 26 is such that it prevents both forward and rearward movement of the power unit from the position of Fig. 3. To return the power unit to its working position of Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to elevate it slightly to withdraw the locking lug 25 from the recess 21, whereupon the power unit is free to move to its forward working position.

It will be observed that I have provided a hinge structure for connecting a power unit to a standard in either an upright or an inverted position, and forholding the power unit in each of these positions. And in addition it functions to hold the power unit in each of two positions atan angle to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The hinge structure is simple and inexpensive in its construction and is durable and eflicient in its operation. 7

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do' not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by v Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a food-working device and the like having a base with a support at one end and a power unit overhanging said base, a hinge structure connecting said power unit to the top of said support for pivotal movement from its overhanging working position to an overhanging non-working position, said hinge structure including a lug on one of said members, and a slot member in its second 2,202,724 the bearing seats. It will be observed that the.

in the other constructed and arranged to receive said lug when the power unit is in said nonworking position, and cam means acting on said lug as the power unit is moved from said working position to said non-working position to elevate the power unit slightly until it reaches said non-working position where said lug registers with said slot,'whereupon the power unit is permitted to fall so that the lug is received in said slot to lock the power unit in said non-working position.

2. A hinge structure connecting two members together for pivotal movement relative to each other on a transverse axis comprising bearings on one of said members, parts on the other received in said bearings supporting said other member for rotation between a pair of angular positions, a lug on said other member, a recess in said one member below said bearings arranged to receive said lug to lock said other member in one of said positions, and a cam surface on said one member engaging said lug as the other member is rotated to said one position to elevate the one .member until it arrives in said one position where it is permitted to drop so that the lug is received in said recess, and the lug being released from said recess by a slight vertical movement of said other member.

3. A hinge structure connecting two members for relative movement to each other on a transverse axis comprising a pair of spaced apart bearings on the first member, pins on the second member received in said bearings supporting the second member for pivotal movement between two positions, a stop on said second member engaging a stop on said first member to define the first of said positions, a lug rigidly secured to said second member for movement between said bearings, said first member having a recess into which said lug is movable to lock said second position, and a cam surface on said first member engaging said lug to elevate it and the second member as the second member is swung to said second position, whereupon the second member is free to drop so that the lug drops into said recess.

4. In a food-working device and the like having a power unit that is provided with an operating shaft and means for driving it, and a standard for supporting the power unit, a hinge structure comprising bearings in the standard open at the top, and pins on the power unit receivable in said bearings to support the power unit in one working position and also in another inverted working position, and stop means on said standardengaging said power unit in each of said working positions.

port for pivotal movementfrom a working position to a non-working position comprising a lug on one of said members and a slot on the other automatically movable into interlocking relation to lock said power unit to said support when said power unit is moved to said non-working position, saidhinge structure providing for ready detachment of said power unit from the support and for its attachment thereto in an inverted working position, and stop means on said support engaging said power unit to hold it in each of said working positions.

6. A food-working device comprising a standard having spaced vertically arranged bearing slots open at the top and having seats at the 75 said power unitin one direction and holding saidv bottom of the slots below the openings and in vertical alignment with them, a power unit having pins insertable into said bearing slots through their open tops and movable vertically downward so as to be received in said seats, whereby the power unit is supported for pivotal movement between working and non-working positions on said standard and can be moved from said standard by moving said pins vertically from said slots, and said power unit having a lug engaging a part of said standard when the power unit is in said working position so as to prevent vertical movement of the power unit with reference to the standard when the power unit is in said working position. 1

7. A food-working device comprising a standard having spaced bearings open at the top, a power unit having pins insertable into said bearings through their open tops so as to be received in said bearings to pivotally support said power unit, a lug on said power unit engaging a part of said standard to prevent vertical movement of the power unit with reference to the standard when the power unit is in a working position on the standard, and a second lug on said power unit engaging a part of said standard when said power unit is in another position to prevent pivotal movement of the power unit with reference to said standard.

8. A food-working device comprising a standard provided with a pair of spaced apart bearing members having open-top bearing seats in them, a power unit having a hinge lug adapted to be received between said bearing members and having laterally projecting pins that are received in said bearing seats to pivotally support said power unit, parts of said power unit and standard engaging each other to prevent pivotal motion of said power unit in one direction and holding said power unit in an overhanging working position, and providing for rotation thereof in the opposite direction to a non-working position, a lug carried by said power unit receivable in a recess in said standard to hold said power unit from pivoting in either direction from said non-working position and said lug and recess movable into interlocking relation responsively to pivotal movement of said power unit to said non-workin position, and releasable by vertical motion of said power unit in said bearings to provide for return pivotal movement of said power unit to said working position.

9. A food-working device comprising a standard provided with a pair of spaced apart bearing members having open-top bearing seats in them, a power unit having a hinge lug adapted to be received between said bearing members and having laterally projecting pins that are receivable in said bearing seats to pivotally support said power unit, parts of said power unit and standard engaging each other to prevent pivotal motion of power unit in an overhanging working position, and providing for rotation thereof in the opposite direction to a non-working position, interlocking means between said power unit and said standard preventing vertical movement of said powerunit in said bearings when in said working position, and interlock means between said power unit and standard movable into interlocking relation when said power unit is pivoted to said non-working position to prevent pivotal movement of said power unit in each direction, and releasable by vertical motion of said power unit in said bearings to provide for return pivotal movement of said power unit to said working position.

10. A food-working device comprising a standard provided with a pair of spaced apart bearing members having open-top bearing seats in. them, a power unit having a hinge lug adapted to be received between said bearing members and having laterally projecting pins that are receivable in said bearing seats to pivotally support said power unit and providing for its pivotal movement between working and non-working positions, interlocking means between said power unit and said standard preventing vertical movement of said power unit in said bearings when in said working position, and interlock means between said power unit and standard movable into interlocking relation when said power unit is pivoted to said non-working position to prevent pivotal movement of said power unit in each direction from said non-working position and releasable by vertical motion of said power unit in said bearlugs to provide for return pivotal movement of said power unity to said working position.

11. A food-working device comprising a standard provided with a pair of spaced apart bearing members having open-top bearing seats'in them, a power unit having a hinge lug adapted to be received between said bearing members and having laterally projecting pins that are receivable in said bearing seats to pivotally support said power unit, parts of said power unit and standard engaging each other to prevent pivotal motion ,of said power unit in one direction and holding said power unit. in an overhanging working position, and also providing for rotation thereof to a nonworking position, a curved cam surface on said standard between said bearing members terminating in a slot, and a lug on saidhinge lug engaging said .cam surface when said power unit is rotated to said non-working position to elevate the power unit until said lug registers with said slot whereupon it falls into the slot and locks the power unit to prevent pivotal movement thereof. the lug being released from said slot when said power unit is elevated.

ROBERT F. BEAN. 

